fabric scraps on your layout

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DESIGNER: SUSAN WEINROTH

http://susanweinroth.typepad.com/

My assignment for you: Create a paper-crafting project – card or layout – that has at least one fabric scrap that is sewn onto it!
I started out as a traditional paper-crafter / scrapbooker, and in the past five plus years that I’ve been scrapbooking, I’ve also found that I have a love for sewing.  Fabric is *almost* as addictive as patterned paper (to me at least!), and I’ve built up quite the fabric stash over the years. 

I often find fabric scraps leftover from my sewing projects, mixed in with the scrapbook layouts that are left in-progress on my craft desk.  This has inspired me to sew some of those fabric scraps directly onto my scrapbook pages.  This little “summer school” mini-lesson is about just that: breaking out your favorite Fiskars sewing tools, a bit of fabric, and including some fabric scraps on a new paper-crafting project!

For my project here, I chose to create a layout – with a recent Mother’s Day photo.  By choosing a black and white photo, I was free to pick any color combinations of fabric that I wanted.  And since I’m usually limited to “boy” colors with the pages that I create for my son, I knew that the pink/purple/aqua/lime green color combo of fabrics would be perfect for this page for me.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

1. Choose your fabric and get out your Fiskars sewing tools – I used my rotary trimmer, craft mat, clear ruler, and No. 5 Microtip scissors.

2. Use your rotary trimmer to trim various lengths/widths of fabric.

3. Use No. 5 Microtip scissors to cut strips apart into various shaped rectangles and squares.  Gently fray the edges of the fabric, using your fingers.

Arrange pieces on cardstock base of page, around where photo will go.  Use as few or as many as you like!

4. Use a small amount of a fabric adhesive – like fabric glue – to adhere the center of each piece of fabric to the page.  I used just a tiny drop of fabric glue on each piece – really, you just need enough to keep the fabric in place while you are stitching everything down.

5. Use your sewing machine to machine stitch straight stitch lines in a grid pattern (or however you like!) across fabric scraps.  It’s ok to leave thread tails longer, I like the texture that the extra thread adds!

6.You may also want to consider placing sequins under your stitch lines for added interest – as I did on this page. After stitching, the back of the page will look like this…  (don’t worry about it!)

7. Trim cardstock base down a bit and mat on a contrasting cardstock – I used gray.  This will also hide all the stitching on the back of your page.

8. Adhere photo using foam adhesive strips.  Embellish with scallop punched strips, more stitching if you like, page title, and journaling.

Supplies:

Fiskars 45 mm Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter - http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_45-mm-comfort-grip-rotary-cutter.aspx

Fiskars 18 Inch x 24 Inch Mat - http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_18x24mat.aspx

Fiskars 3" x 12" Acrylic Ruler with grid - http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_3-x-12-acrylic-ruler-with-grid.aspx

Fiskars No. 5 Micro-Tip® Scissors - http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_no-5-micro-tip-scissors.aspx

Fiskars Scallop Sentiment Border Punch - http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_borderpunch-scallop-sentiment.aspx

Fiskars Adhesive Foam Set - http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_adhesive-foam-set.aspx

Fiskars Desktop Rotary Trimmer - http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_desktop-rotary-trimmer.aspx

Other Products: Cardstock, fabric, thread, sequins, American Crafts thickers